Managing Money :: Alerts

Alerts

Consumer Action's Alerts highlights trends in consumer complaints, scams, outrageous fees and other notable consumer information.

New gift card rules (Aug 19, 2010)
New Federal Reserve rules provide important protections when you purchase or use gift cards. Here are some key changes that…
Financial reform fact sheet (Aug 16, 2010)
The landmark federal financial reform legislation (the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010) was designed to…
YouTube video: Buyer beware when purchasing a used car (Aug 15, 2010)
Buyer beware when purchasing a used car. Rosemary Shahan of Consumers for…

Facebook Dislike button scam spreads virally (Aug 16, 2010)
A new Facebook scam uncovered by network security firm Sophos tempts you with the offer of a "dislike" button (as…
Consumers urged to watch out for scams related to oil spill (Jun 14, 2010)
As the nation follows news of the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, so do scammers. The Federal Trade…
SIPC warns of fake checks sent to consumers (May 20, 2010)
The Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC), which maintains a special reserve fund mandated by Congress to protect the customers of…

Arbitration no shield for debt collectors (Jul 08, 2009)
The Public Justice Access to Justice Campaign and Mandatory Arbitration Abuse Prevention Project has helped win a…
New California Consumer Laws - 2009 (Mar 30, 2009)
The County of Los Angeles Department of Consumer Affairs Staff Training Academy has issued a comprehensive guide to new consumer…
'New low' in mortgage modification scams (Mar 13, 2009)
California Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. today warned that scam artists have "sunk to a new low" and have…

Airline baggage fees (Apr 17, 2008)
Checked baggage fees started with Ryanair. Then they crossed the Atlantic and the Spirit caught on with Allegiant and Virgin…
Insurance Premium Installment Fees (Jan 17, 2008)
We often hear the phrase, “The poor pay more,” and here’s a couple concrete examples of how people who can’t…
Gift Ticket Fee (Sep 13, 2007)
With airline ticket prices getting more expensive, taking the bus may present the best opportunity to travel on the cheap.…

Consumer Action Insurance Survey (Sep 25, 2008)
Update: The survey closed on Thursday, Oct. 9, 2008. Please watch for the results in our Fall 2008 issue of…
Credit Limit Survey (Jun 24, 2008)
This survey closed on July 15, 2008. Click here to see the results…